HBHS and HGHS are New Zealand Secondary Schools Ki-O-Rahi Champions

On the last Friday of Term 1 the combined HBHS and HGHS combined Ki-O-Rahi team departed for Tokoroa to compete in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Nationals  Ki-O-Rahi tournament. After finishing third last year, the team was very excited to have another opportunity at going one better this year to reaching the final, and ultimately winning the tournament.

On the first day of competition the team clearly dominated their pool and performed well. The results are as follows:

Beat Tolaga Bay Area School 26-13

Beat Kawakawa 48-4

Beat Nga Uri a Maui 49-4

Beat Western Heights High School 45-5

Beat Hastings Boys/Girls High School 47-10

After topping our pool, we then progressed to the knockout stages of the tournament where in our quarter final we beat  Forest View High School 34-10.  We then faced previous national champions Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga and although it was a close encounter, the team held their composure winning 22-15.  The team was ecstatic to reach the final for the first time and were well aware of the challenge ahead against the form team of the tournament Gisborne Boys' and Girls' High School.  In a close encounter, the team left their best performance for this game. Capitalizing on the opposition mistakes, playing as a team to each individual's strengths and a key focus on defense saw us winning 15-7 and crowning us Nationals Champions for 2016.

The team would like to thank the coaching staff and management Raynard Haggie, Hollie Gray, Anahera Hunapo, Diamond Henry and Koroheke Moana-Taniwha and all the parents for their efforts and support over the season.  Congratulations to the team of Lucas Baker, Koare Hudson, Ifor Jones, Taipohu Oliver-Samuels, Tyler Riki-Pahewa, Anthony Sinclair, Te Oranga Tairakena, Joshua Wirihana-Tawake and Shaquille Sue- Waara (captain).

A special mention must go to Ifor Jones and Shaquille Sue-Waara who were selected in the New Zealand Secondary School’s tournament team.

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